The Wildcats get the AT&T Center floor the day before their game against the Cougars in the Sweet 16 in San Antonio, Texas.
University of Arizona NCAA Tournament, 2022
Arizona Wildcats head coach Tommy Lloyd appears on a monitor as he answers questions the day before facing Houston in their Sweet Sixteen game in the NCAA Tournament, AT&T Center, San Antonio, Tex., March 23, 2022.
University of Arizona NCAA Tournament, 2022
Arizona Wildcats guard Bennedict Mathurin (0) finishes off a drill with a dunk as the team runs through a brief open portion of their practice the day before taking on the Houston Cougars in a Sweet Sixteen game in the NCAA Tournament, AT&T Center, San Antonio, Tex., March 23, 2022.
University of Arizona NCAA Tournament, 2022
Houston Cougars head coach Kelvin Sampson talks to reporters during a press conference the day before they take on the Arizona Wildcats prior in the Sweet Sixteen at the AT&T Center, San Antonio, Tex., March 23, 2022.
University of Arizona NCAA Tournament, 2022
Houston Cougars guard Kyler Edwards, left, and teammate Josh Carlton answers a few questions during a press conference the day prior to their Sweet Sixteen game in the NCAA Tournament against the Arizona Wildcats, AT&T Center, San Antonio, Tex., March 23, 2022.
University of Arizona NCAA Tournament, 2022
Arizona Wildcats guard Kerr Kriisa (25) tries to dial in his shooting eye as the team gets the AT&T Center floor to work out the day before going up against the Houston Cougars in the Sweet Sixteen, AT&T Center, San Antonio, Tex., March 23, 2022.
University of Arizona NCAA Tournament, 2022
Former Arizona Wildcats athletic director Greg Byrne chats with current Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd just before the team goes through a practice session at the AT&T Center, getting ready for a Sweet Sixteen game in the NCAA Tournament, San Antonio, Tex., March 23, 2022.
University of Arizona NCAA Tournament, 2022
Arizona Wildcats guard Dalen Terry (4) and the team huddle a bit just before their turn on the court the day before going against the Houston Cougars in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament, AT&T Center, San Antonio, Tex., March 23, 2022.
University of Arizona NCAA Tournament, 2022
Arizona Wildcats guard Pelle Larsson (3) looks for the outlet as the team runs a few drills during the public portion of their practice the day before their Sweet Sixteen game agains the Houston Cougars in the NCAA Tournament, AT&T Center, San Antonio, Tex., March 23, 2022.
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Arizona Wildcats head coach Tommy Lloyd received high praise from ex-Wildcats star Sean Elliott. "A lot of people close to the program felt like it should’ve been a former player and an Arizona guy, but it’s worked out really, really well, and I think that speaks to the character of Coach Lloyd and his staff," Elliott said.
University of Arizona NCAA Tournament, 2022
Arizona Wildcats center Christian Koloko (35) and the team run the court for a few minutes, getting ready to face off against the Houston Cougars prior to their Sweet Sixteen game in the NCAA Tournament, AT&T Center, San Antonio, Tex., March 23, 2022.
Kelly Presnell
Photojournalist
Greg Hansen: Kelvin Sampson's Cougars stalking Cats as teams head into Sweet 16For Star subscribers: Sampson’s formula at Houston is like that of TCU, the aggressive rebound-and-defense club that forced Arizona into overtime Sunday. The difference is that Houston has better players than TCU.
Winning puts everyone in a good mood, as these quotes from UA players and coaches show.
To create a model for future success, the Wildcats dipped into the glory of their past.
"When we win the game, it's not nothing personal with the other team's crowd. We’re just goofy. We're all young and goofy. We just like to have fun. We just want to win the game."
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Tommy Lloyd believes Tubelis 'is going to be a better player for it' after TCU struggles. Plus, notes why March 24 stirs up lots of good memories for Arizona fans.
Here are 16 of the defining quotes from the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament:
'Showing everyone that we're still here': Students fired up for Wildcats' latest Sweet 16 appearance
“It’s once in a blue moon that your (school) is able to get this far in the tournament. It reminds us that we’re all a family, and at UA, everyone’s so spirited."
Now that we’re dropping from 64 to 32 to 16 teams, other numbers seem to getting bigger and bigger.
Having watched dozens of hours of Madness over the past week, the Hotline has re-ranked the 16 teams still standing.
Here are some of the most fascinating stories about 16 Wildcats players:
Here’s a look at the five best — and five worst — moments for the UA in the Sweet 16:
One thing is elementary this time of year: Tough defense and thick skin.
Here’s a look at 11 of the brightest remaining stars in the NCAA Tournament.
Dave Pasch talked to the Star about Sunday's game, Christian Koloko's development — is he the next Giannis? — and why Tommy Lloyd is, in Pasch's words, "a star."
Proposal could still be resurrected in Arizona Legislature at later date.
Hear what the top-seeded Arizona Wildcats said as they prepare to battle No. 5 seed Houston in the Sweet 16 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio.